Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/775

 DEFENCE — PRODUCTION AND INDUSTRY

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allowed, as a rule, on furlough. The country is divided into two military circumscriptions or districts ; the first comprising the province of Anvers and the two Flanders', and the second the rest of the country. There are military schools of various grades and several establishments for special military education.

The following is the composition of the Belgian army, apart from the general staff and the administrative and sanitary services : — Infantry : 1 regi- ment of carabineers, of 4 active and three reserve battalions, eacli of 4 companies and 1 depot ; 1 regiment of grenadiers, 3 regiments chasseurs-a-pied, 14 regi- ments of the line, each of these three bodies of 3 active and 2 reserve battalions eachof 4 comjianies and 1 depot ; a corps of discipline and correction ; a school for army cadets. Cavalry : 2 regiments of chasseurs, 4 regiments of lancers, 2 regiments of guides, each of 5 active squadrons and 1 depot. There are also three divisions of gendarmerie each of 3 com])anics, and 1 light squadron. Artillery : A special staff ; 2 regiments of field artillery each of 8 mounted bat- teries, 2 reserve liatteriesand 1 depot battery ; 2 regiments of field artillery each of 7 mounted batteries, 2 horse batteries, 3 reserve batteries, and 1 depot battery ; 3 regiments of fortress artillery, each of 14 active batteries, 2 reserve batteries, and 1 depot battery ; 1 regiment of fortress artillery of 16 active Itatteries, 2 reserve batteries, and 1 depot battery ; 4 special companies — pontooners, artificers, mechanics, and armourers. Train, consisting of a staff, 7 companies, and 1 depot company. Engineers : A special staff ; 1 regiment of 3 battalions each of 4 companies of sappers and miners, 1 battalion of reserve of 4 companies and a depot ; 5 special companies, telegraphists, railway corps, &c. The following is the peace-strength of the Belgian army in 1898 : —

Infantry

Cavalry

Artillery

Engineers

Gendarmerie

Others ^

Total

Officers

Rank and File

Total

1,745 1 304 i 534

27,900 5,760 8,214

29,645 6,064 8 748

146

1,860

2,006

59 631

2,831 1,449

2,890 2,080

3,419

48,014

51,433

1 General staff, train, administrative, military school; &c.

For the army there are 9,040 horses and 204 guns, and for the gendarmerie 1,845 horses. In time of war the total strength is 4,466 oflicers, 143,628 men, and 25,823 horses.

Besides the standing army, there is a 'Garde Civique,' numbering in 1898, 42,827 men, organised as far as possible in the communes, and part of whose duties is to maintain the integrity and independence of the territory ; it is only active in communes of over 10,000 inhabitants and in fortified places.

Production and Industry.

I. Agriculture.

In each province of Belgium there is an Agricultural Commission appointed by the King ; delegates from which, along with specialists, form a supreme council of agriculture. There are six special services connected with the

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